Golf putting practice device

ABSTRACT

A golfing device comprising an elongated flexible playing surface having a ball receiving cup mounted therein at one end thereof and extending downwardly therefrom. A disc having an inclined upper surface with an aperture therein is positioned underneath the playing surface so that the ball receiving cup is movably received in the disc aperture whereby the block may be rotated independently of the playing surface and cup to vary the angle of the playing surface around the ball receiving cup.

United States Patent [1 1 Culley Oct. 2, 1973 [54] GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE 1,611,660 12/1926 Manly 273/176 H [761 John Ernest Culley, 1301 Brooklawn 312321833 313;? $5231.53?TT;11.......111115131322i Dr., Boise, Idaho 83705 [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1972 Primary Examiner-George .l. Marlo [211 pp No; 233,166 Att0rneyWilliam E. Schuyler, Jr. et al.

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No 98,427, Dec. 15,

I970, abandoned;

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/176 H [51] Int. Cl A63b 67/02 [58] Field of Search 273/176, 177,178, 273/179, 180, 195

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,291 12/1926 Jackson 273/176 H 1.612292 12/1926 Jackson 273/178 B [57] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures film GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 98,427 filed Dec. 16, 1970 entitled MASTERPUTTING, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a golfing device and more particularly to a golf putting green wherein the angle of the putting surface surrounding the cup may be varied.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various prior art devices have heretofore been known for aiding a golfer in practicing putting. Many such prior art devices, however, have suffered from the disadvantage of being unduly complicated and expensive to manufacture, thus making the cost prohibitive for the average golfer. Other such prior art devices have not provided a convenient means for varying the surface surrounding the golf ball receiving cup so that a golfer may pratice breaking putts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages of prior art golf practice putting devices enumerated above. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf putting green which is simple in construction and which is easily portable. A further object is to provide a golf putting green in which the angle of the surface surrounding the golf cup may be varied to permit the practice of putts of difat a constant angle with respect to the opposite face and having an aperture in saidone face is positioned underneath the flexible playing surface adjacent said one end. Both the playing surface and the disc rest upon the supporting surface. The ballreceiving means is movably received in the aperturewhereby the disc may be rotated independently of the playing surface to vary the angle of the playingsurface around the ball receiving means with respect to the supporting asurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantagesfof the invention will become apparent by reference to themoredetailed description of the invention and the accompanyingdraw- .ings which follow wherein:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a golfing device according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 -2 of FIG. I, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wedge-shaped wheel used to vary the'angle of the surface surrounding the golf cup.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, there is shown a golfing device according to the present invention generally 5 comprising an elongated flexible: playing surface 11 having an opening 12 adjacent one end in which a suitable golf ball receiving means 13 is mounted. Preferably the playing surface 11 is comprised of a suitable artiticial grass material which simulates the appearance and texture of grass of the type commonly grown on outdoor golf greens. The flexible material from which the playing surface is constructed should be of a suitable thickness such that it has sufficient body to lie flat on a supporting surface. Artificial grass made of plastic material meets this requirement. As shown in FIG. 1, the playing surface preferably is straight across at the starting end 14 and is rounded at the ball receiving end 15. It will be understood, however, that the playing surface may have other configurations than that shown such as square or circular.

The opening 12 in the playing surface 11 is positioned adjacent the ball receiving end 15 but is spaced therefrom. The ball receiving means 13 is mounted in the opening 12 as best shown in FIG. 2. Preferably the golf ball receiving means comprises a cup 16 of a suitable material such as plastic having a generally horizontal, flat outwardly extending circular rim portion 17 around the top thereof. The cup 116 may be attached to the playing surface 11 by any suitable means such as an adhesive on the upper surface of the rim 17 of the cup to secure the rim to the bottom side of the playing surface underneath the opening 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The ball receiving means also could be a cylinder or sleeve extending downwardly from the playing surface.

Means are also provided for varying the angle of inclination or contour of the playing surface surrounding the ball receiving means 13 and opening 12. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the contour varying means comprises a wedge-shaped wheel or disc 20 of a suitable material such as plastic, having one face (theupper surface) 21 inclined at a constant angle with respect to the opposite face (the lower surface). It will be appreciated, of course, that the surface contour varying means may take a shape other than the circular wedge-shaped wheel shown in FIG. 3. For example, a square or rectangular block having an upper surface inclined with respect to its lower surface may be. used. The wedge-shaped wheel 20 further is provided with an aperture 22extending therethrough from the top to the bottom to receive the ball receiving means 13 depending down from the opening 12 in the playing surface 11. The golf ball receiving means such as cup 16 is loosely androtatably received in the aperture 22 so that the wedge-shaped wheel 20 may be freelyrotated independently of the playing surface 11 and the cup 16. When the wheel 20isrotated, it will be appreciated that the cup 16 serves as an axle around which the wheel 20 is rotated. p i

The top of the playing surface 11 may be marked with a plurality of position markers 25 spaced at various locations on the playing surface or green 11 to facilitate the practice of putting from various known locations with respectto the golf ball receiving-means 13. An indicating ring 26 also may be marked on top of the playing surface 11 surrounding the golf receiving means 13 to serve asa marker for indicating the proximity of a ball to the ball receiving means.

In operation of the golfing device of the present invention, the playing surface or green 11 is placed on a suitable supporting surface with the wedge-shaped wheel placed underneath whereby the cup 16 is received in the aperture 22 of the wheel so that the wheel may be manually rotated around the cup. To vary the angle of the green or playing surface 11 in the area immediately surrounding the cup, it is only necessary to rotate the wheel 20 with respect to the playing surface whereupon the position of the inclined surface 21 on the wheel is varied to cause a corresponding variance in the contour or angle of the playing surface immediately surrounding the cup. Thus, in starting it may be desired to face the wheel 20 such that the incline is facing the straight end 14 of the playing surrace 11. In this position, a putt would have a straight uphill roll at the end towards the cup. On the other hand, when it is desired to practice breaking putts or putting at different angles, the wheel 20 may be rotated in either direction as shown by the arrow 27 in FIG. 1 so that the surface surrounding the cup has either a left to right break or a right to left break.

It will further be appreciated that if desired the contour of the front portion of the playing surface or green 11 may be varied. This may be readily accomplished by providing a plurality of wedge-shaped wheels or blocks which may be inserted from either side of the playing surface underneath thereof to vary the contour of the surface.

The golfing device of the present invention has many uses. For example, it may be used entirely indoors as a game wherein the scoring varies according to how close the golf ball comes to the cup or drops in the cup. The device also is useful in connection with indoor golf schools where it can be incorporated in a permanent indoor golf green. The device also, of course, may be utilized either indoors or outdoors, the only requirement being that it rest on a supporting surface which permits the wheel to be rotated underneath the playing surface.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be understood that various modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A golfing device comprising an elongated flexible playing surface of artificial grass material,

ball receiving means mounted in an opening adjacent one end of said surface and defined by said surface, said means extending downwardly from said opening and being secured to said flexible playing surface,

contour-varying means positioned beneath said flexi ble surface, said contour-varying means comprising a disc having one face inclined at a constant angle with respect to the opposite face and having an aperture in said one face with said ball receiving means being rotatably received in said aperture, said disc and said flexible playing surface both resting on a supporting surface whereby said disc may be rotated independently of said playing surface and ball receiving means to vary the angle of said playing surface around said ball receiving means with respect to said supporting surface.

2. A golfing device according to claim 1 wherein said ball receiving means comprises a cup. 

1. A golfing device comprising an elongated flexible playing surface of artificial grass material, ball receiving means mounted in an opening adjacent one end of said surface and defined by said surface, said means extending downwardly from said opening and being secured to said flexible playing surface, contour-varying means positioned beneath said flexible surface, said contour-varying means comprising a disc having one face inclined at a constant angle with respect to the opposite face and having an aperture in said one face with said ball receiving means being rotatably received in said aperture, said disc and said flexible playing surface both resting on a supporting surface whereby said disc may be rotated independently of said playing surface and ball receiving means to vary the angle of said playing surface around said ball receiving means with respect to said supporting surface.
 2. A golfing device according to claim 1 wherein said ball receiving means comprises a cup. 